Feeling like she's responsible for everything and everyone around her is one of Hinata's most deep rooted psychological issues.

Knowing it doesn't change it.

At least not overnight.

She wants to check on him.

The worry has her pacing a hole in her new little area carpet.

She palms her cell phone.

She said she'd call him later, but she's not sure that she's ready for the conversation that needs to happen...but taking care of Naruto has been her second nature for years now, and it's a hard instinct to shut off.

She bites her lip.

She knows she won't sleep a wink, not if she doesn't at least know that he's ok.

She doesn't have to talk to him.

Just confirmation that he hasn't hurt himself…

She dials.

The voice that answers is rough and slightly groggy. "Yo?"

"Kiba!" Hinata exhales his name. "Hey, it's Hinata. Uhm, I need a favor."

"One sec." She hears him rustle about and a female voice in the background. There's more fabric rustling against the receiver and then she hears a door open and close. After a moment, he's back on the line. "What's up? You good? You safe?" He asks and immediately she can hear the edge-the protectiveness.

Kiba is one of her oldest friends, and one of the few that knew both her and Naruto from way back. Kiba had a wild side and a protective streak a mile wide. He and Naruto butted heads more times than she can count in college. She suspects that he's partially the influence behind Naruto's face tattoos-not that she would ever blame Kiba for that. It was Naruto's choice and lack of impulse control.

"Yes," she assures him. "I just...listen, this is going to sound silly, but could you order a pizza? For delivery. From Teuchi's place?"

She hears him swear softly under his breath. "What'd he do?"

"No...it's not like that. We...we aren't…together." Her breath catches in her throat.

"Aw, shit, Hinata, I didn't know."

"No, it's okay. Not many people do. I just-"

"Want me to kick his ass when he gets here? Knock some sense into him?" His offer is genuine and she sniffs with amused affection. Kiba was always supportive of her feelings for Naruto, even when some people felt she was hopeless.

"I just want to make sure he's okay," she whispers.

Kiba grunts something in the affirmative. For as much as they fought, Hinata knows that Kiba cares about Naruto. Maybe not as much as he cares about her, but enough.

"Yeah. I can do that. You want me to call after?"

She sniffs again-grateful Her eyes sting. "If you don't mind."

"Naw, it's no problem. I was getting hungry anyway."

"Thank you, Kiba."

"I'll call you back." He hangs up.

Forty-three minutes later her phone rings.

"Hello?"

"He looks like shit. But he's not bleeding, black and blue, or intoxicated."

Hinata finally sits. She cradles the phone to her ear and exhales shakily. "Okay."

"My offer to kick his ass still stands, however."

Hinata snorts, wiping her eyes. "I think I've hurt him enough."

There's a long pause before Kiba says, almost gently, "Pretty sure that runs both ways. You gonna be okay?"

She swallows. Not today. Maybe not tomorrow, or next week...but…"Yeah. Eventually."